An Ode to Black Music Month: The Muse Mixx Vol. 11

https://www.pixelstalk.net/michael-jackson-backgrounds/

Good Morning Muses! Happy Music Monday on a Tuesday! I hope you all are doing well this morning and are ready for a wonderful day.

via GIPHY

I know I’ve been MIA but sometimes I do agree with the phrase of having to disappear until you feel like yourself again. I’ve been working hard on feeling like myself again. I’ll speak on that in another blog post though.

This one is all about music and I couldn’t think of a better playlist theme than this one right here.

Every June, Naima Cochrane curates a Black Music Month Challenge on Instagram and I love participating each year and also watching my friends participate and share music with people. The comment section is also one of my favorite things because some people’s opinions definitely make you go hmmm and know that because all our musical opinions are different, y’all may look at mine and go hmmm.

So let’s look at the list and then jump in.

A Song You Wish You Could Discover for the First Time Again – “Heaven Can Wait” by Michael Jackson
Your Favorite Philly Soul or Philly Soul-Inspired Jam – “He Loves Me (Lyzel in E Flat)” by Jill Scott
You Really Need The Artist to Explain the Lyrics to this Song – “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” by Michael Jackson
Celebrate Your Favorite Multi-Generational Great – “There Goes My Baby” by Charlie Wilson and “Sing A Song” by Earth, Wind, & Fire
A Song That Reminds Us That All Music Is Black Music – “transparent soul” by Willow featuring Travis Barker and “Buckle Bunny” by Tanner Adell
Your Favorite Falsetto – “I Like It” by DeBarge (El DeBarge)
The Greatest Bar or Song Verse in History – “Boyz-N-The-Hood – Remix” by Eazy-E (Crusin’ Down the Street in my ’64…)
Your House Bout to be Clean as a Whistle with these Songs – “Street Life” by The Crusaders
This Song Sounds Like What Love Feels Like – “How Does It Make You Feel” by Victoria Monet and “Lovin’ You” by Minnie Riperton
A Song That Represents Your Favorite Music Era – “Get On the Floor” by Michael Jackson and “Everybody Dance” by CHIC
A Song That You Would Set On Fire If It Were Possible To Set Sound On Fire – “This is America” by Childish Gambino
A Song You Hate But Can’t Help But Song Along – “Refill” by Elle Varner
This Song Is Your Black National Anthem – “Before I Let Go” by Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly and “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like That)” by Digable Planets
A Song You Love That Everybody Hates – “It’s Not Design” by Lupe Fiasco featuring Salim
A Song You Quote on a Regular Basis – “Paint the Town Red” by Doja Cat (B*tch, I said what I saiddddd)
A Song That Addressed An Issue In A Way You Hadn’t Heard Before – “Around My Way (Freedom Ain’t Free)” by Lupe Fiasco
A Track Guaranteed to Change Your Mood – “Lovely Day” by Bill Withers
A Song From An Artist You Think More People Should Know – “Fkn Around” by Phony Ppl featuring Megan Thee Stallion and “Golden pt. 2” by Berhana featuring Mereba
You Love the Video More Than the Song – “Motivation” by Normani
Your Favorite Sample Flip – “Bright Lights Bigger City” by CeeLo Green (samples “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson by beat interpolation) and “Addiction” by Ryan Leslie featuring Cassie and Fabolous (samples “I Can’t Help It” by Michael Jackson)
A Song that Puts You In Your Feelings – “Never Can Say Goodbye” by The Jackson 5
This Cover is Better Than the Original – “Use Somebody” by dvsn and “Same Ol’ Mistakes” by Rihanna
Something From A Musical Family Legacy – “Good & Plenty” by Alex Isley featuring Jack Dine & Masego (Alex Isley is the daughter of Ernie Isley of the Isley Brothers)
Your Stop Everything When This Song Comes On Jam – “Outstanding” by The Gap Band
A Song by Your Goat, That Explains Why They’re Your Goat – “Dangerous” by Michael Jackson
This song Was Recorded in a Studio with a Live Mic. No autotune – “I Want You” by Marvin Gaye
Your Favorite Song From A Soundtrack – “I’m Dreamin” by Christopher Williams (New Jack City,) “On Our Own” by Bobby Brown (Ghostbusters II,) “Men In Black” by Will Smith (Men in Black,) “Come Back in one Piece” by Aaliyah featuring DMX, and “Try Again” by Aaliyah (Last two from Romeo Must Die)
A Song That Makes You Think You Can Sing – “Sweet Dreams” by Beyonce
A Favorite Collaboration – “She Got Her Own” by Ne-Yo, Jaime Foxx, and Fabolous, “Lady Marmalade” by Christina Aguilera, P!nk, Mya, & Lil Kim, “Touch It Remix” by Busta Rhymes, Rah Digga, Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliott, DMX, Lloyd Banks, and Papoose, and “Don’t Hurt Yourself” by Beyonce featuring Jack White
Your Superhero Music – “State of Shock” by The Jacksons & Mick Jagger, “What’s Up Danger” by Blackway with Black Caviar, “Boss Bitch” by Doja Cat, and “Fein” by Travis Scott & Playboi Carti

Y’all know I have an inability to just put one song for anything. I’m sure it surprises y’all none. However, I thought this was a really solid list to play with for Black Music Month and it created a lot of awesome dialogue online too.

Something that hits me more and more every time I do one of these is just how beautiful our art as Black people is. Like every genre has it’s origins from Black people and tell a story of our people. How we interpret and create art in the musical art from is one of the most beautiful things that can be done in my opinion.

Before I head up out of here, I wanna give a little spotlight on the newer albums I’ve been listening to lately:

MEGAN by Megan Thee Stallion

So, I know I’m not the only one knowing that Megan came out the gate swinging with her first project, singles, and rollout for her first independent album. Even while on tour, Megan has managed to do a successful rollout for this new album, three singles (Cobra, Hiss, & Boa,) an amazing tour with GloRilla, and just enjoying being herself more with her friends and fans. Seeing her get loved on in this era also has been so refreshing and beautiful to watch.

Favorite Songs: Hiss, Figueroa, Where Them Girls At, Mamushi, Paper Together, Down Stairs DJ, Miami Blue, and Worthy

CRASH by Kehlani

I feel like this album and the complete and beautiful body of work that it is isn’t getting talked about enough due to Kehlani boldly and loudly supporting Palestine. I love Kehlani being vocal, which is something she always has been, and her art has never suffered as a result of her activism and it shouldn’t now. She gave us an album to love to, groove too, and some fun summer records. If you haven’t listened to it, jump on it. I also want to know WHERE THE TINY DESK AT?!

Favorite songs: GrooveTheory, After Hours, Tears, Crash, Next 2 U, Sucia, and 8.

Dopamine by Normani

The people finally got what they wanted. Normani dropped her debut album and there are many a bops on this album. It’s also a complete body of work which we’ve had singles, we’ve had snippets and teqases, but with this being her first complete body of work, I love what I’ve been hearing from her. I also want to take the moment to say this, people have been really hard on her and I mean the “fans.” Normani switched up her entire team, was dealing with both parents being sick (I believe both had cancer,) and then navigating the industry now with a new team. She also caught a lot of flack for pulling out of the BET Awards the day of due to injury. I just think we give a lot of people grace (people were very sympathetic to Tyla performing while hurt and then it making her existing injury worse,) but she hasn’t been extended an iota of an amount of grace as others.

Favorite Songs: Big Boy, Lights On, Insomnia, Candy Paint, Grip, 1:59, Tantrums, and Little Secrets

Algorithm by Lucky Daye

Lucky Daye in my opinion has had a solid four album run, Algorithm being the fourth in that run. Lucky once again put out a beautiful body of work in which he continues to explore his sound and depth of his vocal ability. Lucky is also a freaking perfomer, I’ve been seeing bits and pieces from his tour that just started on the 11^th of this month in San Francisco, California. I love seeing people engage the audience, I love that the mics are ON, okay? I hope to see Lucky on his tour stop in New Orleans.

Favorite Songs: Never Leavin’ U Lonely, HERicane, Soft, Algorithm, Blame, That’s You, Paralyzed, Lemonade, and Diamond in Teal

Blue Electric Light by Lenny Kravitz

Lenny Kravitz is one of my favorite living legends still rocking and kicking. I also feel like Lenny kind of gets left out of legend conversations often because he is, in his own right, a legend. Lenny has been giving us quality music since ’89. Lenny’s sound is something that feels timeless, nostalgic, and even keeps up with the times. The only thing I wish was he was touring near me to get the opportunity to see him in person.

Favorite Songs: It’s Just Another Fine Day, TK421, Honey, Paralyzed, Human, Let It Ride, Bundle of Joy, and Blue Electric Light

Winter’s Diary 5 by Tink

Tink is one of those artists that I feel like has never gotten her due and shine. For whatever reason even with her commitment to her flow, pen, artistry, and consistent drops; it feels like she isn’t as big as she should be. In my opinion her newest project is she’s done it again with a solid project that deserves more talk and praise that she is overdue for.

Favorite Songs: Stressin’, Charged Up, Songs About U, Playa, Make It Make Sense, Attention, Past Those Interlude, Jealous, Insane, and Pretty Girls.

I have one big piece of news to share before I go! My colleague, LaVashti, is nominated for three awards at the Las Vegas Black Music Awards! She is up for the Rising Star Award, Artist of the Year Award, and Song of the Year Award for her single, Wish U Well. The show will be August 25th, 2024 at the Ahern Hotel in Vegas. Please support her by voting for her here!